 At 59 she was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer.As president of the Center for Advancing Health Gruman drew on her own experience of treatment for five cancer diagnoses, interviews with patients and caregivers, surveys and peer-reviewed research to describe and advocate for policies and practices to overcome the challenges people face in finding good care and getting the most from it.Gruman was born in Berea, Kentucky in 1953, and graduated from Vassar College in 1975 with a BA in English.